Since the introduction of the Scholar-Athlete Award following the 1980-81 academic and athletic year by the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), Morehead State University has had a long and illustrious history connected to the award. This season, MSU added to it.
This year, both of MSU’s nominees, volleyball player Olivia Lohmeier (20) and men’s golf team member Joe Muschong garnered recognition from the OVC for their efforts in the classroom, community and competition. Their selection marks the sixth time in the award’s history and first since 1990-91 that MSU has had two OVC Scholar-Athlete Award winners. The selections of Lohmeier and Muschong also mark the third consecutive year MSU has had a Scholar-Athlete Award winner, the longest streak since having an award winner for 10 straight seasons from 1984-85 to 1993-94.
Overall, Lohmeier and Muschong represent the 26th and 27th recipients of the OVC Scholar-Athlete Award for Morehead State, marking the 27th and 28th overall times the University has claimed a Scholar-Athlete Award.
Awarded each fall and based on the prior year’s achievements, the OVC Scholar-Athlete Award is the highest individual honor earned by OVC student-athletes. The recognition is given annually to three men and three women of junior or senior status who have accomplishments in both the classroom and athletic arena, as well as leadership qualities.
The winners are selected from a group of nominees, one male and one female athlete per institution, nominated by OVC Faculty Athletics Representatives. To be eligible, honorees must have at least a 3.5 GPA and conduct themselves in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete, his or her institution, intercollegiate athletics, and the Ohio Valley Conference.
Lohmeier is a native from Cincinnati, Ohio, who graduated with a 3.94 cumulative GPA and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Systems Area. She was also honored as the 2019-20 MSU College of Business and Technology Outstanding Computer Information Systems Student of the Year. She has been a multi-year selection to the OVC’s Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the MSU’s Dean’s List while also earning multiple OVC Medals of Honor.
Off the court and in the community, Lohmeier is a member of the Morehead State volleyball leadership team and a member of Athletes in Action. She’s also volunteered for numerous off and on-campus events, including Better Life Church, College Night, Freshman Move-in and multiple youth clinics.
On the court, Lohmeier was named American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Midwest Region and a VolleyballMag.com Honorable Mention All-American. A First Team All-OVC selection, she ranked in the Top 25 in the NCAA in five statistical categories, including ranking seventh in the country in total points (620.5) and eighth in total kills (564). Her 564 kills marked an MSU junior class record and tallied the fourth-highest single-season total in program history.
Muschong, a senior sport management major with a general business minor, holds a 3.93 GPA. He earned a Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-American for his classroom efforts during the 2019-20 academic year. A multi-time OVC Medal of Honor winner, he also has earned multiple selections to the OVC’s Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the MSU College of Business and Technology Dean’s List.
Off the course, the Lexington native is a member of the MSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, volunteering with the organization’s Shop with a Cop initiative while also volunteering with numerous junior golf programs throughout Kentucky.
On the course, Muschong captured a pair of top-five finishes, including a season-best fourth-place finish at the Eastern Kentucky University Raising Cane’s Intercollegiate to open the 2019-20 season. He also earned All-OVC honors after finishing sixth in the conference with a 71.8 stroke average, with his lowest round total coming in the Elon Phoenix Invitational opening round. In that round, he fired a season-low 64, the lowest round for an Eagle since 2014.
For more information on MSU Athletics, visit www.MSUEagles.com.
